WCC NEWS: #Breakthebias message addresses role of media in gender equality

A roundtable hosted by the World Council of Churches and the World Association for Christian Communication released a message on 8 March that addresses the role of media in a world striving for gender equality. An international symposium on Social Justice in a Digital Age in Berlin, Germany, co-organised by the World Council of Churches and World Association for Christian Communication. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 08 March 2022 The roundtable was held on International Women’s Day, which this year has a theme of “gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow,” summed up by the social media hashtag #Breakthebias. The message prayed for a world free from bias, stereotypes and discrimination.  “In line with the 2022 theme, #BreaktheBias, today we met together online to consider the role of media in a world striving for gender equality,” reads the message. “Media in its broadest sense – our news, entertainment, advertisements, social media platforms – play a pivotal role in defining who we are as individuals and as a society.” The message notes that, all around us are real-world consequences of media which promote stereotypes and discrimination. “But media can and has been a powerful force for justice and equality,” the message reads. “News which represents women and men accurately and fairly strengthens our understanding of our communities.” Entertainment and advertisements which challenge stereotypes and attitudes can positively impact relationships and identities, the message notes. “And communication platforms which take responsibility to protect individuals from abuse and online violence can emphasize the message that behaviour online has offline consequences,” the message reads. “In this age of social media, we all bear responsibility for promoting and using our media channels to reflect the world we want to see and live in.” Read the full #Breakthebias message See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland